Slim-tunnel wind port for a communication device

Abstract

A housing having a port for reducing wind-induced noise in a communication device. The housing includes a first channel, a second channel, and a ridge between the first and second channels. The housing further includes a tunnel extending through the ridge, which tunnel connects the first and second channels. The housing further includes a microphone port beneath the ridge, which microphone port is connected to the tunnel and connects the tunnel to a microphone cavity in the housing.

We claim: 
     
       1. A housing for a communication device, the housing comprising:
 a first channel; 
 a second channel; 
 a ridge between the first and second channels; 
 a tunnel extending through the ridge and connecting the first and second channels; and 
 a microphone port beneath the ridge, the microphone port connected to the tunnel and configured to connect the tunnel to a microphone cavity in the housing; 
 wherein the housing is a single piece element, and 
 wherein the first channel, the second channel, the ridge, and the tunnel are arranged to disrupt the formation of turbulence-causing discrete vortices by air moving across a surface of the housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the ridge has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the first and second channels are parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the tunnel is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ridge. 
     
     
       3. The housing of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second channels is defined in part by a vertical planar side wall of the housing that has therein an opening forming an end of the tunnel, and wherein the vertical planar side wall also partially defines the ridge. 
     
     
       4. The housing of  claim 3 , wherein the ridge includes a planar horizontal surface which defines a top of the tunnel, and wherein each of the first and second channels is partially defined by a planar horizontal floor perpendicular to the side walls. 
     
     
       5. The housing of  claim 4 , wherein the opening in each of the side walls is rectangular. 
     
     
       6. The housing of  claim 5 , wherein the microphone port extends downward from a bottom of the tunnel toward the microphone cavity. 
     
     
       7. The housing of  claim 6 , wherein the tunnel has a tunnel length extending along a direction between the channels and a tunnel width extending along a direction perpendicular to the tunnel length and parallel to the two channels, and wherein the microphone port is rectangular in cross section and has a microphone port length substantially equal to the tunnel length and a microphone port width substantially equal to the tunnel width. 
     
     
       8. The housing of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second tunnel extending through the ridge and connecting the first and second channels; and 
 a second microphone port beneath the ridge, the second microphone port being connected to the second tunnel and configured to connect the second tunnel to the microphone cavity. 
 
     
     
       9. A communication device comprising:
 a single piece element housing including
 a microphone cavity; 
 a first channel; 
 a second channel; 
 a ridge between the first and second channels; 
 a tunnel extending through the ridge and connecting the first and second channels; 
 a microphone port beneath the ridge, the microphone port connecting the tunnel to the microphone cavity; and 
 
 a microphone in the microphone cavity; 
 wherein the first channel, the second channel, the ridge, and the tunnel are arranged to disrupt the formation of turbulence-causing discrete vortices by air moving across a surface of the single piece element housing. 
 
     
     
       10. The communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the ridge has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the first and second channels are parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the tunnel is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ridge. 
     
     
       11. The communication device of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second channels is defined in part by a vertical planar side wall of the housing that has therein an opening forming an end of the tunnel, and wherein the vertical planar side wall also partially defines the ridge. 
     
     
       12. The communication device of  claim 11 , wherein the ridge includes a planar horizontal surface which defines a top of the tunnel, and wherein each of the first and second channels is partially defined by a planar horizontal floor perpendicular to the side walls. 
     
     
       13. The communication device of  claim 12 , wherein the opening in each of the side walls is rectangular. 
     
     
       14. The communication device of  claim 13 , wherein the microphone port extends downward from a bottom of the tunnel toward the microphone cavity. 
     
     
       15. The communication device of  claim 14 , wherein the tunnel has a tunnel length extending along a direction between the channels and a tunnel width extending along a direction perpendicular to the tunnel length and parallel to the two channels, and wherein the microphone port is rectangular in cross section and has a microphone port length substantially equal to the tunnel length and a microphone port width substantially equal to the tunnel width. 
     
     
       16. The communication device  claim 9 , wherein the housing further includes
 a second tunnel extending through the ridge and connecting the first and second channels; and 
 a second microphone port beneath the ridge, the second microphone port being connected to the second tunnel and configured to connect the second tunnel to the microphone cavity. 
 
     
     
       17. The communication device of  claim 9 , further comprising a speaker inside the housing. 
     
     
       18. The communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the communication device includes a portable two-way radio. 
     
     
       19. A housing for a communication device, the housing comprising:
 a first set of surfaces defining a first channel; 
 a second set of surfaces defining a second channel; 
 a ridge between the first and second channels; and 
 a microphone port beneath the ridge, 
 wherein the microphone port is connected to both of the first and second channels and extends downward from the first and second channels and is configured to connect the first and second channels to a microphone cavity in the housing, and 
 wherein the housing is a single piece element, and 
 wherein the first channel, the second channel, the ridge, and the microphone port are arranged to disrupt the formation of turbulence-causing discrete vortices by air moving across a surface of the housing. 
 
     
     
       20. The housing of  claim 19 , further comprising a tunnel extending through the ridge and connecting the first and second channels, and wherein the microphone port is connected to the tunnel.